Bellefontaine High School is administering the ACT on Saturday, September 8. This test is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors. It is used in the college application process as a standardized test to compare students across the nation.
Many students prepare for the exam using test books and taking practice exams. BHS also pays for an online ACT preparation course that is offered free to students. Many classes at the high school are also geared toward helping students get ready for this exam, such as Prep For College.
Pictured Left: High School seniors Noelle Dunn (left) and Katie Vetorino study for the ACT.
The ACT consists of four parts: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Each part is scored, and then these four scores are averaged to give students an overall composite score. The maximum score for the exam is 36.
The essay section on the exam is optional, and is scored out of 12.
The SAT is the other national standardized test. This exam has only three parts: Critical Reading, Writing, and Math. The essay for this exam is required. Each section is scored out of 800, and the scores are added together to give students a total score. The maximum possible score is 2400.
Many students feel the ACT is more math-science based, whereas the SAT is more English based. Colleges in Ohio accept the ACT more often, while out-of-state schools typically accept the SAT.
Because of this, Bellefontaine High School does not administer the SAT. The school does, however, offer the ACT several times throughout the year. Students are not limited to taking the test once; they can take the test as many times as they choose in an attempt to better their scores.
Bellefontaine will administer the exam again on October 27.
Listen to Noelle Dunn discuss what she is doing to prepare for the test.
Listen to Katie Vetorino talk about the format of the ACT.
